Some jobs may not be flexible enough to meet the needs of a working carer.

Some jobs may not be flexible enough to meet the needs of a working carer.

If an employer is not able to offer reasonable workplace flexibility, you might consider if there is any kind of job you can do from home.

Here are some suggestions to get you started with your research.

1. Transition from your current job

Your first option is probably the simplest; instead of looking for a new job, try to transform your current job. After all, most white-collar jobs these days can be done from home. For example, do you spend most of your day in front of a computer using software that’s available on the cloud? If so, there’s no reason you can't tackle those responsibilities from home.

Even if you’re in a more traditional or conservative industry, the right pitch could convince your boss to transition your position to a remote one. Even government and non-profit sectors are gearing more toward work-from-home opportunities.

2. Opt for a hybrid model

Maybe your boss needs you in the office for a weekly meeting, or you’re needed as an additional face for client meetings. Consider the prospect of opting for a hybrid model, in which you work from home two or three days per week, but go into the office for the remaining days. This may not be your ideal setup, but it’s better than a full week of office commutes. Plus, if you do a good enough job in those few work-from-home days, you’ll have evidence that a fully remote model could work.

3. Become a virtual assistant

It’s not the most glorious job on this list, but it is one of the most in-demand opportunities for work-from-home employees. Depending on whom you work for, you could have responsibilities as a virtual assistant that include booking hotel accommodations, organising or taking notes, maintaining schedules, compiling (digital) paperwork or even reading and researching on your employer’s behalf.

These opportunities are available in a number of different niches, so look for them on job boards, and network to find promising open positions.

4. Sell crafts

Do you like to cross-stitch? Paint? Bake? Do you make your own pillows? Or work with clay, or knit? All those crafts can be sold for a profit, and in some cases a pretty high one. Different crafts offer different available profit margins, depending on the skill level involved, the amount of competition and audience factors.

However, almost any craft can be sold reliably if you know how to market yourself. You can use a site like Etsy to get started, or try to build a site and online presence on your own. Many places have regular market days and you can consider setting up a stall.

5. Open your home

If you feel comfortable with having other people in your own home, you can open it up temporarily to new guests in a handful of different ways. You could rent out a room or rent the entire place to travellers by joining Airbnb, visit: www.airbnb.com.au Or, if you’re feeling even more entrepreneurial, you could convert your home into a full-on bed and breakfast. If you live near a university, consider hosting international students or even domestic students – both will pay a premium for full board. Whatever you choose, you can take care of almost all your responsibilities from the comfort of your home.

6. Take surveys and participate in focus groups

Companies are more than willing to pay people for their opinions, often in the forms of surveys and focus groups. The amount of money you make here can vary wildly; you might make only $1 for a survey that takes you 20 minutes, or you might get $150 for watching a pilot of a TV show and giving a few statements about what you think.

If you enjoy this evaluative work, it can be worth pursuing, but don’t expect a massive paycheck. To help get you started visit: www.surveyssay.com

7. Write content for others

We’re in the midst of the golden age of content marketing, and that means the world is hungry for more content. If you’re good with your words, you might as well capitalise on this trend. Content marketing has created a high demand for original written material, so it’s not hard to find companies that need articles written regularly -- sometimes daily. Reach out to content-marketing firms which employ many writers and are always looking for more talent. Find writing jobs on Craigslist, or on Freelancewritinggigs.com. If you have a particular profession (e.g. you are an accountant), and you can write, offer your services to the bigger accounting firms to see if they want a weekly newsletter writer. Another idea is to contact businesses to see if you can improve their website for them.

Funded by...

The Working Carers Gateway is funded by Family & Community Services NSW